Locking Block Rail Insert

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a pistol with a frame having a rear grip, a trigger facility forward of the grip and an upper surface. An elongated slide connects to the frame and is operable to reciprocate along the upper surface. The frame defines a trigger recess open above the trigger facility at the upper surface. An insert has a major portion removably received in the trigger recess and has a rail extending from the major portion above the upper surface. The frame rail is adapted to connect with the slide to constrain reciprocation of the slide.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/535,594 filed on Jul. 21, 2017, entitled Pistol Locking Block, Slide Rail and Stopping Block, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all that is taught and disclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to firearms. More specifically, the present invention relates to firearm parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The assembly of firearms from parts instead of purchasing a complete firearm has become popular with the purchasers of firearms. It has become a hobby that allows the firearm to be customized with the desired features by the purchaser. When a purchaser buys a completed firearm from the dealer, that purchaser usually ends up spending more money on customizing the firearm, while discarding parts that originally were part of the firearm. Popular changes to completed firearms are trigger replacement, barrel replacement, sight replacement and weight reduction modifications.

One of the parts of the firearm is always engraved or marked with a serial number and recorded for tracking purposes. The marked part is generally considered as the firearm by the ATF and is usually the receiver or frame of the firearm. The purchaser can purchase only the marked part and build a firearm by purchasing the other required parts to complete the firearm. Under the law in most jurisdictions, a purchaser can machine a firearm without marking of that part that is normally registered. The unmarked machined part usually has restrictions from sale to others and must remain with the person who machined the unmarked part. If a transfer of the unmarked part takes place, the part must be marked with a serial number prior to the transfer; and the normal federal firearms regulations which include DROS, and background checks are required to be performed on the recipient of the firearm. An issue with machining the firearm from scratch is that most purchasers do not have a machine shop or the skills to machine such parts.

Machine shops and polymer manufacturers can manufacture firearms receivers or frames up to a point of incompletion, that allows them to sell the unfinished frame to customers, who then proceed to finish the frame for their personal use. Under the federal law, if the part is only completed eighty percent or less of the effort to provide a completed part that requires marking, the part is considered not being a firearm. It should be noted that the “80%” description is not recognized by the ATF as an official technical term, but is understood as a classification or description of the type of component that is being produced within the firearms industry. The part being classified as a non-firearm allows the part to be sold by manufacturers without violating the law.

The trend is to have firearm receivers and frames of a polymer material available for sale that a purchaser can buy. Then, the purchaser buys the other required firearm parts separately to assemble the firearm. The receivers and frames are traditionally made from metal, but now are also being made from a polymer material. Receivers and frames made of the polymer material sometimes require additional parts to be used with the parts to be installed. Incorporation of durable metal parts that are removable and replaceable instead of molding them in place is preferable to keep the polymer frame at 80% and reduce manufacturing costs. Typically, these durable metal parts can include such components as slide rails, slide stops and receiver stiffeners.

It is an object of the present invention to provide one component that adds both slide rails, slide stops, and a pin location for a trigger as one part to be assembled in a frame or receiver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pistol with a frame having a rear grip, a trigger facility forward of the grip and an upper surface. An elongated slide connects to the frame and is operable to reciprocate along the upper surface. The frame defines a trigger recess open above the trigger facility at the upper surface. An insert has a major portion removably received in the trigger recess and has a rail extending from the major portion above the upper surface. The frame rail is adapted to connect with the slide to constrain reciprocation of the slide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a locking block rail insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a locking block rail insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a locking block rail insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded right side view of a rear rail insert and a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective left side view of a locking block rail insert and a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective right side cut away view of a locking block rail insert and a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective right side cut away view of a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a right side cut away view of a locking block rail insert and a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a left side cutaway view of a locking block rail insert and a pistol with a barrel and slide according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a left side cutaway view of a locking block rail insert and a pistol with a barrel and slide according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a locking block rail insert according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective right side view of a locking block rail insert of FIG. 11 and a pistol according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows the slide stopped against the stop surface during recoil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-12 show two embodiments of a locking block rail insert that mounts in a pistol frame.

FIGS. 1-10 show the first embodiment of the locking block rail insert 10. FIGS. 1-3 show the locking block rail insert 10 is a frame with two sides 12 and a cross member 14. The locking block rail insert 10 includes a rail 16 at the top of each side 12 to engage grooves in an elongated pistol slide 18. The sides 12 include a front leg 20 and a rear leg 22 which both angle rearward as they extend downward from the rails 16. The front leg 20 includes a front pin hole 24. The rear leg 22 includes a rear pin hole 26 and a semi-circle cut out 28. The semi-circle cut 28 would form a complete pin hole if there was more material forming the sides 12 and therefore provides a partial pin hole or slot. The material of the sides 12 that outline the front pin hole 24, rear pin hole 26 and semi-circle cut out 28 provide contact surfaces for pins. The cross member 14 is between the rear legs 22 to connect the two sides 12 together. The sides 12 include a frame support 30 below the rails 16. At a front end of the frame support 30 and each rail is a stop support surface 32, as shown in FIG. 3. The cross member 14 also includes a stop surface 34 on the front of the cross member 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIGS. 4-8 show a pistol frame 36 that receives the locking block rail insert 10. The pistol frame 36 has a rear grip 38, a trigger facility 40 forward of the grip 38 and an upper surface 42, as shown in FIGS. 4-5. FIGS. 4-5 and 9-10 show the slide 18 to be connected to the pistol frame 36 and operable to reciprocate along the upper surface 42. The pistol frame 36 defines a trigger recess 44 open at the upper surface 42 above the trigger facility 40. FIG. 4 shows the locking block insert 10 and pistol frame 36 prior to insertion of the locking block rail insert 10. FIGS. 5-6 and 8 show the locking block rail insert 10 installed in the pistol frame 36. The trigger recess 44 includes a front leg slot 46 and a rear leg slot 48 on each side of the pistol frame 36. The front leg slot 46 and rear leg slot 48 are angled rearward to match the angle of the front leg 20 and rear leg 22. The upper surface 42 of the pistol frame 36, front leg slot 46 and rear leg slot 48 each include contact surfaces to support the locking block rail insert 10, as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a frame contact surface 50 on the upper surface 42 of the pistol frame 36 which contacts and supports the locking block rail insert 10 along the bottom edge 52 of the frame support 30 of the locking block rail insert 10. The frame support 30 positions the rails 16 above the pistol frame 36 to receive the slide 18. FIG. 7 shows a front contact surface 54 as part of the front of the front leg slot 46 which contacts a front edge 56 of the front leg 20 of the locking block rail insert 10. FIG. 7 shows a rear contact surface 58 as part of the rear of the front leg slot 46 which contacts a rear edge 60 of the front leg 20 of the locking block rail insert 10. FIG. 7 shows a front contact surface 62 as part of the front of the rear leg slot 48 which contacts a front edge 56 of the rear leg 22 of the locking block rail insert 10. FIG. 7 shows a rear contact surface 64 as part of the rear of the rear leg slot 48 which contacts a rear edge 60 of the rear leg 22 of the locking block rail insert 10. The front edge 56 of the rear leg 22 of the locking block rail insert 10 includes a contact radius edge 66 near the top of the rear leg 22.

The front of the rear leg slot 48 includes a contact radius support surface 68 to engage the contact radius edge 66 to provide additional support of the locking block rail insert 10 in the pistol frame 36. When the locking block rail insert 10 is installed into the pistol frame 36, the fit between the front legs 20, rear legs 22 and the pistol frame 36 precisely positions the locking block rail insert 10 in the pistol frame 36 and prevents forward and rearward motion of the locking block rail insert 10 in the pistol frame 36.

FIG. 4-5 show a front locking block pin hole 70, a rear locking block pin hole 72 and a trigger pin hole 74 on each side of the pistol frame 36. The front locking block pin holes 70 align with the front pin hole 24 of the front legs 20. The trigger pin holes 74 align with the rear pin hole 26 of the rear legs 22. The rear locking block pin holes 72 align with the semi-circle cut out 28 of the rear legs 22. FIGS. 4-5 show a front pin 76, rear pin 78 and a trigger pin 80. The front pin 76 is inserted into the front locking block pin hole 70 to secure the locking block rail insert 10 in the pistol frame 36. The trigger pin 80 is inserted into the trigger pin hole 74 to secure the locking block rail insert 10 in the pistol frame 36 along with a trigger that is not shown. The rear pin 78 is inserted into the rear locking block pin hole 72 to engage the semi-circle cut outs 28 of the locking block rail insert 10 to secure the locking block rail insert 10 in position.

FIGS. 7-8 show a slide stop block 82 on each side of the pistol frame 36. The slide stop block 82 is part of the same material as the pistol frame 36. The slide stop block 82 is positioned as part of the pistol frame 36 to provide a stopping structure for the slide 18 to engage and be stopped by the slide stop block stop 82 during recoil of the slide. Typically, the pistol frame 36 is made of a polymer material. FIGS. 7-8 also show the stop support surface 32 of the locking block rail insert 10 tightly engaging the rear surface 84 of the slide stop block 82. The front pin 76 and the rear pin 78 mounted in the front hole 24 and against the semi-circle cut outs 28 position the stop support surface 32 tightly against the rear surface 84 of the slide stop block 82 to retain solid contact between stop support surface 32 and the rear surface 84 of the slide stop block 82. The stop support surface 32 is supported by the other components of the locking block rail insert 10 to aid the slide stop block 82 to absorb the force of the recoil of the slide 18 as the slide 18 hits the slide stop block 82. This process is shown by FIGS. 9-10, where FIG. 10 shows an inside surface 86 of the slide 18 striking the front surface 88 of the slide stop block 82. Also shown in FIGS. 9-10 is a barrel 90 with a barrel lug 92 and a stop surface 94 on the rear of the barrel lug 90. When the pistol is fired the barrel 90 tilts upward and moves rearwards during recoil. The stop surface 34 on the front of the cross member 14 engages the stop surface 94 of the barrel lug 92 to prevent further rearward movement of the barrel 90.

The second embodiment is a different version of the locking block rail insert. FIGS. 11-13 show a different locking block rail insert 100. FIG. 11 shows the locking block rail insert 100 by itself and FIG. 12 shows the locking block rail insert 100 installed in the pistol frame 36. The locking block rail insert 100 includes most of the same components as the locking block rail insert 10 but replaces the stop support surface 32 with a slide stop block 102. The slide stop block 102 extends forward from each side 12 as a structural part of each side 12 of the locking block rail insert 100. The slide stop block 102 shown in FIGS. 11-12 provides a structure for the slide 18 to impact and therefore having a slide stop block of as part of the pistol frame 36 is not required. The slide stop block 102 being a part of the locking block rail insert 100 causes the locking block rail insert 100 to take the total impact of a recoiling slide 18 at a stop surface 104 on the end of the slide stop block 102. FIG. 13 shows when the slide 18 is stopped against the stop surface 104 during recoil.

While different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the embodiments could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements are illustrative only and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention that is to be given the full breadth of any and all equivalents thereof. 

1. A pistol, comprising: a frame having a rear grip, a trigger facility forward of the grip and an upper surface; an elongated slide connected to the frame and operable to reciprocate along the upper surface; the frame defining a trigger recess open above the trigger facility at the upper surface; an insert having a major portion removably received in the trigger recess and having a rail extending from the major portion above the upper surface, the frame rail adapted to connect with the slide to constrain reciprocation of the slide.
 2. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the trigger recess of the frame has opposed parallel sidewalls, and the insert is closely received between the sidewalls.
 3. The pistol of claim 1, wherein the insert has opposed parallel vertical elongated portion connected to each other at their upper ends by a span, and each having a frame rail at its upper end.
 4. The pistol of claim 3, further including at least three pin contact surfaces define in each elongated portion to engage three pins, and corresponding holes in the frame registered with the apertures to receive the pins.
 5. The pistol of claim 3, wherein the elongated portions each have front edges and rear edges, and wherein the trigger recess has respective front contact surfaces and rear contact surfaces closely abutting the insert front edges.
 6. The pistol of claim 1, further including a slide stop block on each side of the pistol frame to stop the slide as the slide moves rearward along the rails; and wherein the elongated portions each have a stop support surface to engage and support the slide stop block.
 7. The pistol of claim 3, wherein the span has a stop surface to constrain reciprocation of a barrel moving rearward during recoil.
 8. A locking block rail insert adapted to be mounted in a trigger recess of a pistol frame, comprising: a right side with a rail that is adapted to accept a slide; a left side with a rail that is adapted to accept the slide; a cross member mounted between the right side and the left side, wherein the right side and left side are connected together by the cross member; and contact edges along edges of the right side and the left side adapted to engage contact surfaces within the trigger recess of the pistol frame.
 9. The locking block rail insert of claim 8, wherein the cross member includes a stop surface adapted to constrain rearward motion of a barrel during recoil.
 10. The locking block rail insert of claim 8, wherein the right side and the left side each include at least three pin contact surfaces adapted to receive and engage a pin to secure the locking block rail insert in the pistol frame.
 11. The rear rail insert of claim 8, wherein the right side and the left side each include a front leg and a rear leg, the front leg and the rear leg each having a contact edge adapted to engage contact surfaces within the trigger recess of the pistol frame.
 12. The rear rail insert of claim 11, wherein the contact edge of each rear leg includes a radius adapted to match a curved contact surface of the pistol frame.
 13. The rear rail insert of claim 11, wherein each of the front legs and rear legs include a pin hole adapted to engage a pin in the pistol frame and wherein each of the rear legs include a semi-circle cut out adapted to engage a pin in the pistol frame.
 14. The locking block rail insert of claim 8, wherein the right side and the left side each have a stop support surface adapted to engage and support a slide stop block on each side of the pistol frame to stop the slide as the slide moves rearward along the rails.
 15. The locking block rail insert of claim 8, wherein the right side and the left side each have a slide stop block adapted to stop the slide as the slide moves rearward along the rails.
 16. A kit of parts for assembling a pistol comprising: a pistol frame having a trigger recess, the trigger recess having contact surfaces inside of the trigger recess; a slide; and a locking block rail insert to be mounted in the trigger recess of the pistol frame; the locking block rail insert comprising: a right side with a rail that is adapted to accept a slide; a left side with a rail that is adapted to accept the slide; a cross member mounted between the right side and the left side, wherein the right side and left side are connected together by the cross member; and contact edges along edges of the right side and the left side adapted to engage contact surfaces within the trigger recess of the pistol frame.
 17. The rear rail insert of claim 16, wherein the right side and the left side each include a front leg and a rear leg, the front leg and the rear leg each having a contact edge adapted to engage contact surfaces within the trigger recess of the pistol frame.
 18. The locking block rail insert of claim 16, wherein the right side and the left side each have a stop support surface adapted to engage and support a slide stop block on each side of the pistol frame to stop the slide as the slide moves rearward along the rails.
 19. The locking block rail insert of claim 16, wherein the right side and the left side each have a slide stop block adapted to stop the slide as the slide moves rearward along the rails.
 20. The locking block rail insert of claim 16, wherein the right side and the left side each include at least three pin contact surfaces to each receive and engage a pin to secure the locking block rail insert in the pistol frame. 